Electric-heat applicator



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,686,865 A. KLOTZ ELECTRIC HEAT APPLICATOR Filed Feb. '7,1927 Patented 0a. 9, 1928.

ALFRED KLOTZ, OF MUNICH, GERMANY.

ELECTRIC-HEAT ABPLICATOR.

Application filed February 7, .1927, Serial No.

The present invention has reference to therapeutic apparatus forgenerating and then'locally or generally applying radiating light andheat to the human body, and it relates more specifically to acollapslble, readily portable device for generating and properlydiffusing and reflecting luminous and thermal rays, and the particularObject of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character forgenerating and directing a safe, steady stream of penetrating,therapeutically potent rays, which then directly impinge upon the bodyparts thus irradiated for direct heating thereof, whereas in priorapparatus they are primarily used for-heating the circumambient air andthen only indirectly act on the parts under treatment. A further objectof the invention is to provide a heat applicator of this type which ischeap and simple in operation, not liable to get out of order even .inunskilled hands, which can readily be carried about and for instance,can be set up in the patients bed without danger and without disturbinthe patient, and which uses relatively little current and for thisreason can be attached to the standard house circuit, the heatingelement requiring not more current than an ordinary sadiron.

According to my invention I combine a heating unit of rod shape with anelongated mirror or reflector, which latter is designed to collect theheat rays emanatin from the heat unit and to bend them back onto thebody part to be treated. The heating unit preferably is mounted alongthe focal line of the concave reflector, so that the rays are thrownback in substantial parallelism. In order to prevent localized undueheating of the tissues by the rays emanating from the underside of theheating unit, I arrange an additional, narrower reflector within themain reflector, spaced underneath the heat unit, which bottom reflectorintercepts these lower rays and throws them up against the upperreflector, from where they are then reflected downward again past thenarrow reflector. By this reflector arrangement all energy is collectedand usefully reflected onto the parts to be treated in an indirectmanner without any direct, harsh, injurious direct irradiation of thebody portion under treatment.

My invention will best be understood when 166,323, and in GermanySeptember 12, 1925.

ing drawing, in which a preferred embodiment is illustrated by way ofexample. Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through theapplicator; Fig. 2 is a cross-section therethrough 011 line 22 of Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus; Fig. 4 illustrates adetached, single heating element; Figs. 5 and 5 respectively show frontand side views of the locking means for the supporting side panels.

The curved oblong mirror or reflector 1 of suitable material, preferablypolished brass, may be smooth-faced or, for the purpose of enhancing itsoperative superficial area, may be of corrugated 0r zig-zagcross-section, as shown by way of, example in Fig. 2. The elongatedrod-like heating unit is preferably built up of a plurality of heatcoils 3 upon which the resistance wire 4 is wound in well known manner.The number of such series-connected coils 3 depends upon the length ofthe reflector, though, normally, two such heat coils suflice. They aremounted for g ready exchange or replacement, in case different voltagesare to be used or a burnedout coil is to be replaced by a new one. Forthis purpose each coil is provided at each end with a metal contact pin5, which pins are in current-conducting contact with the heat wire 4 andare clampingly held between the socketed end screws 6 and theintermediate double-ended socket abutment 7. For exchanging a coil therespective end screw is eased'until the contact'pins can be removed fromtheir sockets. The complete heat unit is insulatedly suspended in thebracket arms 8 Which extend convergingly from the reflector 1, and itstwo terminals are connected by cables 13 with the plug socket 14. Theheat unit is preferably arranged along the focal plane of the reflectorand is adjustable relative thereto in bracket arms 8.

Below the heat unit there is mounted on the brackets 8 a relativelynarrow reflector 2 parallel to the upper main reflector 1. Thisbottom'reflector 2 serves to prevent direct suitable manner on theirradiation of the treated parts .by the rays emanating from the lowerzone-0f the heat unit. In Fig. 2 the doubly reflected rays are indicatedin their course by arrowed interrupted lines. This lower-reflector,furthermore, serves as safe ard against possible injury to the patient ydropping parts of a reaking heat member.

The lower reflector, likewise, is arranged and adjustable in such mannerthat the heat unit extends along its focal plane.

The described parts are hooded by a case or cover 9, preferably ofheat-retaining material, and the front and rear ends are closed in byend walls 16 and 116 respectively, on the one of which, as shown wall16, the contact socket 14 isinsulatedly mounted. To the two lowerlongitudinal edges of the case 9 are hingedly secured the supportingside body 9 there are provided clamping rosettes 12 at the four corners.These clamps 12 each comprise two complemental radially corrugated discsof spring metal which resiliently cooperate in snap-fashion, the onedisc being secured to the side panel, and the complemental disc to thecase in the pivotal axis thereof.

Handles 15 are provided on the case. Whennot in use the applicator iscollapsed as shown in Fig. 3, when it can readily be carried about andstoredunderneath the bed or upon a closet shelf. For use the side panelsare opened up, asshown in full lines in Fig. :2, and the device isstraddlingly placed over the stretched out patient, or over only a limbof the sit-ting patient. A cover is then placed over the appliance andaround the patient to prevent access of cold air, and the current isthen turned on.

Whilst I have described my invention in a preferred embodiment, I desireit to be understood that --modifications, obviously, may be made andthat no limitations are intended other than may be imposed by the scope,of the appended claims.

What I claim is 2- .1. A heat applicator of the character set forth,comprising an elongated downwardly deflecting main reflector, aninsulating case therefor open below, bracket members converginglyextending from said reflector, an elongated upwardly deflectingsecondary reflector of less width than the first said reflectoradjust-ably mounted on said bracket members, an elongated heat elementmounted on said bracket members intermediate said two reflectors intheir coincident focal planes, side panels hingedly secured to the "twolongitudinal edges of said case, and

means for maintaining the side panels in their relatively adjustedpositions.

2. A heat applicator of the character described comprising an elongatedinverted U- shaped casing normally ,open at its bottom and provided withend walls, a correspondingly shaped main reflector upon the interior ofsaid casing, a heating element arranged within the main reflector, asmaller reflector arranged within the main reflector below the heatingelement and in the focal plane of the main reflector, and doors hingedto the lower edges of the side walls of the casing and movable outwardlyand inwardly to open and close the normally open bottom thereof.

3. A heat applicator of the character described comprising. an elongateddownwardly reflecting main reflector, an insulating case therefor openat its base, bracket members depending from the main reflector, anelongated upwardly reflecting secondary reflector of less width than themain reflector supported by said bracket members, an

elongated heating element mounted on said bracket members between saidreflectors and 1 thereof. V

' ALFRED KLOTZ.

